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I accidentally added Delany too the squad twice, but I would Hodgson on the bench and Just give Mike a crack to show what he can do, we have nothing to lose at the Stoop and the direction that Mike brought off the bench against Saracens, I'd like to see him just go out there and play with no worries too show what he can bring. Then bring Joel off the bench in the last 20 to bring the tempo...

Good stuff ff07. However, I disagree with you above in saying we have nothing to lose.
We have everything to lose, and I know we're the away team, but Harlequins are there for the taking.

If we're serious about get-crushing the top 6 then we should be going to the stoop with the intention of winning.

It's not disrespecting Harlequins, but in saying that I honestly think that this is one of the weakest Harlequins teams we're ever likely to face. I don't think they are strong as a unit.
I hope we'll be going to the stoop with our strongest team and hopefully to get 4 points.
The psychology any win gives will stand us in good stead for the games against Gloucester and Leicester.

We can't afford to take the foot off the pedal especially with losing two in a row already.We need any sort of momentum we can get. If it means winning ugly, so be it. .

The only realistic way the Falcons are going to get something from the game is to score a lot of tries. Therefore, Delany cannot start at fly-half. I agree Chick has been in particularly good form, but I expect him to be on the bench.

lizard118Good stuff ff07. However, I disagree with you above in saying we have nothing to lose.
We have everything to lose, and I know we're the away team, but Harlequins are there for the taking.

If we're serious about get-crushing the top 6 then we should be going to the stoop with the intention of winning.

It's not disrespecting Harlequins, but in saying that I honestly think that this is one of the weakest Harlequins teams we're ever likely to face. I don't think they are strong as a unit.
I hope we'll be going to the stoop with our strongest team and hopefully to get 4 points.
The psychology any win gives will stand us in good stead for the games against Gloucester and Leicester.

We can't afford to take the foot off the pedal especially with losing two in a row already.We need any sort of momentum we can get. If it means winning ugly, so be it. .

Thank you lizard! Really appreciate it.

Oh aye, I agree on the fact that these 5 games are massive for us and as competitive pro athletes, I'm sure these guys would want nothing more than to come away from a place like the stoop with 4 points. But for me, it seems a big ask considering the side Quins will have out.

I completely agree on the fact that it is the weakest Quins side that we will face, if they don't get into the champions cup this season I reckon Kingston will be in trouble... but we will have to see how they turn up first... they haven't been together for some time so the main thing for them is that they gel back together too put in a good performance against us...we shall see how they perform come Saturday... really tough place but we've had them close in recent years down there so we shall see.

Yep, three on the bounce going into a huge game with glos wouldn't be good, and if we lost to them then that would be 7th place about gone imo. Huge couple of weeks ahead...

alasThe only realistic way the Falcons are going to get something from the game is to score a lot of tries. Therefore, Delany cannot start at fly-half. I agree Chick has been in particularly good form, but I expect him to be on the bench.

Aye I agree it's a gamble and Delany doesn't offer the threat that Joel does, just thought mike looked good against sarries and really brought some tempo to the team, as did Egerton who I wouldn't mind starting a prem game.

Aye I'm a huge fan of Chick, just want one of our best carriers running at Evans all afternoon...

Both sides have everything to play for. It's a sell out so there will be plenty of atmosphere. I'm glad I bought my ticket early and a win is not beyond us. It is a matter of patience and taking every chance that comes our way.Exeter went through 30+ phases in the Anglo Welsh Final today. We need that sort of patience.

I wouldn't be taking Quin's so lightly. I expect them to have most of their international players back, with most of them playing very little last weekend apart from marler and if robshaw is back that's a hugh boost for them. And I think Quin's have only lost once at home this season

Although we scored try's when mike came on against Saracens I don't think he played well at all, he still crabbed across the pitch and took the space of the wingers, JPS doesn't seem as comfortable with mike as the 10,

Benpj17Although we scored try's when mike came on against Saracens I don't think he played well at all, he still crabbed across the pitch and took the space of the wingers, JPS doesn't seem as comfortable with mike as the 10,

Probably because the way Socino is as a player, a barrel like 12 who likes to run hard lines to a flat defence, not from deep... if you had someone like Adam Powell or Dom Waldouck outside mike, I think it would work out very well, solid distributors...

I think you could stick Delany at 15 on Saturday, although taits been exceptional he has dropped some shockers in recent weeks and having Delany at 15 may take some pressure of Hodgson at 10.

I remember seeing mike playing 15 earlier in the season against Quins and he played his best game for us imo, floated out some lovely balls to the wide channel for Socino and made some great breaks and dangerous carries...

Bedlington LadAny points at Quins would be good, they are very tough to beat at home

Defiantly BL, you know it's tough when you haven't won there in 7 years and a full strength team like Saracens can't get a result there, they haven't won at the Stoop in 2 years... that's why in a sense I think we have nothing to lose, going down there no one expects us to win. But that may work in our favour, we just have to go out there and start well like we did at Northampton!

Mind you they lost to Edinburgh in the challenge cup a few weeks ago, Edinburgh blew them away from the start, that's what we need to do, start well and silence the Quins fans and make the stoop an awkward place to be....

This will be a totally different Quins that has been playing recently with internationals back at 1,3,9,11,12,15 plus at least Robshaw back from injury perhaps others and they are never easy to beat at home,it will be difficult getting anything I think.

Again, to state the obvious, we have to cut out the silly errors. The team is playing a decent and entertaining brand of rugby at the moment and it does pose a a threat to any opposition but to be effective and win us games balls have to go to hand, not too high, too low or behind the receiver and most definitely caught, not knocked on.

Quins fans in peace. Obviously I am backing a quins victory on the weekend, but definitely not taking you guys for granted and also the tremendous work Dean Richards has done for you. In the past, we would expect 5 points from our home game against you, but I will be more than happy with an ugly 4 points with the form you've been playing with this season and because of your position in the league.

I expect quins to be more or less at full strength, with a lot of players reportedly returning from injury and international call-ups. I'd play;

I don't entirely agree with you all when you say its one of the weakest quins teams of recent years, I'd say the opposite as on paper it is full of quality. It is the consistency and control we lack sometimes. I think Quins by 10 but could be even close if we underestimate you.

Quins4life
I don't entirely agree with you all when you say its one of the weakest quins teams of recent years, I'd say the opposite as on paper it is full of quality. It is the consistency and control we lack sometimes.

I thought it a bit odd to dismiss the likely Quins team as weak, on paper the Quins squad looks decent quality. Making the team tick week after week has been the problem. If you get a quiet summer with not many players in & out you should get some consistency for next season & see a lot of improvement.

I think that the biggest problem we (Quins) will face is the issue with so many returning players. We've struggled quite badly for consistency and even putting aside injured players we've still got (most likely) Marler Sinckler Care Roberts Visser and Brown. That's a big disruption that I'm sure you'll be able to take full advantage of!

That's the beauty of opinions on forums. Obviously I don't expect everyone to agree with my point of view, but I honestly believe this, and despite having Jamie Roberts et al, to be the weakest Harlequins team of the last 5 years.
In the end it's not just about players, more about leaders and characters in the team who want to play for each other and win a game of rugby. Five years ago Harlequins had Evans on top of his game, which can't be said now; then there was Easter a leader and a winner.

The likes of Robson, Kohn, Guest, Fa'asavalu upfront, were premiership rugby hardened and all leaders in their own right.
Other than the likes of Horwill and Robshaw, upfront you don't see the same calibre of leaders in the current Harlequins team. Yes, you obviously get talented individuals but they are not a team in the same breath as those mentioned above.

And that's why I believe this Harlequins team is the weakest of recent years.

lizard118That's the beauty of opinions on forums. Obviously I don't expect everyone to agree with my point of view, but I honestly believe this, and despite having Jamie Roberts et al, to be the weakest Harlequins team of the last 5 years.
In the end it's not just about players, more about leaders and characters in the team who want to play for each other and win a game of rugby. Five years ago Harlequins had Evans on top of his game, which can't be said now; then there was Easter a leader and a winner.

The likes of Robson, Kohn, Guest, Fa'asavalu upfront, were premiership rugby hardened a
nd all leaders in their own right.
Other than the likes of Horwill and Robshaw, upfront you don't see the same calibre of leaders in the current Harlequins team. Yes, you obviously get talented individuals but they are not a team in the same breath as those mentioned above.

And that's why I believe this Harlequins team is the weakest of recent years.

Well said lizard, about having leaders all over the park, they do have a sublime amount of quality, but a lot of their guys like Clifford, Sinclair, Wallace, Matthews, merchant, swiel are still pretty young... and probably don't have those leadership skills yet, exceptional talents mind... Quins will be back in the top 4 mix in a few seasons I reckon.

Lest we not forget the bowling ball 12 of Jordan turner hall and Ugo Monye... and brown, all exceptional athletes and great at communicating...

Still be a very tough game at a ground that we have not won a premiership match at in 17 years!!! I'll be chuffed with a losing bonus point.

falconsfan07
Referees for this Saturday are Tom Foley who never really gets a bad word said about him...

I bet he does on the Bristol message board. If he has ever refereed a game that they lost he will be the worst referee in history, along with all the other referees who have played a part in games that they have lost, they are all the worst too.

The Newcastle fans who came to the Stoop were absolutely amazing as always. See you guys next season at Kingston Park, best away ground I have been to made even better by the fans before and after the game.

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